A highly sensitive and selective cyanide detection using a gold nanoparticle-based dual fluorescence-colorimetric sensor with a wide concentration range

In this study, a simple analytical system is presented for the detection of cyanide with a wide concentration range, which is respectively based on the fluorescent and colorimetric properties of gold nanoparticles. This dual-functional system can work directly for aqueous medium and expand efficiently a wide detection range over three orders of magnitudes for cyanide determination. By using the fluorescence method, the lowest concentration for quantification of cyanide ions is 1.0 × 10^-7 M, and the sensitivity is good enough for the determination of cyanide in drinking water. To recognize higher concentration of cyanide for industrial sewage monitoring, the colorimetric behavior can be used as an alternating tool for field tests from naked eye. The system also provides an excellent selectivity toward cyanide over other common interfering anions and metal ions, thus enabling the ability to monitor cyanide contamination in environmental samples. Furthermore, several real water samples spiked with cyanide, including local tap water, drinking water, lake water, and sea water, were analyzed, and the experimental results demonstrated that this sensing system exhibited excellent recoveries for these practical water samples. Our attempt may provide a cost-effective, rapid and simple solution for the recognition and determination of different levels of cyanide contamination in aqueous samples.